As I examine the Gospels with eyes fixed upon my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I find the expression He passed through documented on many occasions by all four of the Gospel writers. We see Christ passing through certain towns and cities and even through certain homes. The reaction to Christ passing through some places was sometimes volatile and even abusive.

For example when He passed through the city of the Gaderenes and healed the demon possessed man, instead of the people of that region rejoicing over such a great work of compassion and power wrought by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they instead because 2,000 of their swine drowned pleaded with Christ to depart from their city.

The Lord Jesus Christ passes through cities all over this world today sometimes in the presence of only one person or in a church congregation that He is working through and yet people even today are doing just what the people of that time did so long ago. When I look back on my earlier life, I can now recall many instances and occasions the Lord Jesus Christ was trying to speak to me to get me to turn from darkness and to receive Him and brought into His marvelous light.

John 8:12 Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light, which is Life. (Quick Amplified Bible)

I made up so many excuses and went deeper and deeper into sin and spiritual darkness. I was in a spiritual black hole. I could not see any light at all. Yet, I was telling myself that everything was fine and that I was in control. When in reality the drugs and sex were in control of me. He passed through many times and I could have stopped, turned, and asked Him to talk and walk with me, but I chose not to do so.

It is a sad thing when men and women pass through this life and never meet the Author and giver of life (Jesus Christ) and they spend their entire time on earth (in time) existing instead of living. This is what I did for over two (2) decades. When the Lord Jesus Christ passed through this world the first time, He came not to condemn any man. He passed through death itself (by laying down His life, He was not killed) for every man who has ever lived.

Hebrews 2:9 But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace (unmerited favor) of God [to us sinners] He might experience death for every individual person. (Quick Amplified Bible)

Christ passed through the dark tunnel of death and came out victorious. All of us sinful men are walking and talking corpses until we appropriate what He did on the cross and at His resurrection. He tasted the vile corruption of death for all men. No one that comes to Him will ever have to taste death. Every man if he is honest is terrified of death and never wants to discuss it in any detail.

Hebrews 2:14-15 Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death--that is, the devil--And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the [haunting] fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives. (Quick Amplified Bible)

Why is death a subject that is off limits to every man outside of Christ? These two Scriptures tell us why and tell us how in Christ we can be forever free down here of the terror of death. Christ removes the dread of death.

I asked a man one time, “Are you prepared for death?” and he sort of shrugged his shoulders and said, “What is there to prepare for.” I know I'm going to die.” I said “don't you fear death seeing that you do not know what's on the other side of it.” Before this question, he was laughing and joking with another man standing with him, but after this question his expression became much less giddy and turned very serious, He said, “Why should I fear death? I told you I know I'm going to die.”

I said to him, “The Bible says that it is appointed unto every man once to die and after that the judgment.” Are you ready for your life to be judged?” I said, “The Bible says there are only two choices and that is Heaven or Hell.” He said to me, “There is nothing after death.” I said, “But what if you are wrong and you could know with absolute certainty what is after death?” I said, “I know where I'm going to be after death” He said, “I don't know and you don't know either.”

I said, “But I do know because the one who created me and you and made the entire Universe has told me that I will be with Him forever.” I said to him, “Christ came to this earth and became a man and went to a Roman cross and died for your sins and mine and He rose from the dead after three days.” I said to him, “If you trust Him like you would trust a Surgeon in a Hospital emergency to operate on you or like you would trust a parachute if you jumped from an airplane at 30,000 feet, He would forgive you, save you, and let you know you belong to Him and where you will be forever after death.”

After all, of that, he just looked around puzzled and went on his way not wanting to hear anymore. Here is a man that had know idea that the Lord Jesus Christ was passing through his area at that very moment seeking him out because He loves him. I am sure it was not the first time that our Lord and Savior passed through his way, but who knows if it might have been the last time. Only the Lord Jesus knows the answer to that.

Proverbs 29:1 He who being often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will be suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy. (NKJV)

I am confident our Heavenly Father places His children sometimes in very dreadful and very unpleasing circumstances and locations, that He might pass through and bid some lost soul to turn from sin and darkness unto Him. Many times we balk and complain about these conditions (I know I have) not fully knowing or seeing the Sovereign plan of our Lord, Master, and Savior.

When our Lord Jesus passed through Jerusalem and healed the man at the pool of Bethesda, the Jews persecuted Him. The Jews sought to kill Him. Their reason was that He performed this miracle of compassion on the Sabbath day. Christ is never concerned with what day or what place a man receives spiritual healing from sin by the appropriation of His blood poured out at Calvary.

His concern is for the soul of every man. This is why He passes through in us in every place, every corner, of this earth to give every man, woman, boy, and girl an opportunity to be healed from sin. The disease of sin is no respecter of persons it afflicts all of humanity and all will die from its crippling grip.
John 8:24 That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be--if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins. (Quick Amplified Bible)

Every day Christ passes through the lives of men and women all over the world and many just brush Him off and go on in their sins. Still carrying the penalty, burden, and the controlling power that sin has over them. Many times, they even laugh at the person and make jokes about the person trying to witness the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to them.

However, our Lord and Savior shows such longsuffering and patience it boggles my mind. Christ is also no respecter of persons He will heal any person who repents and comes to Him. His grace is more than sufficient to restore any sinner. This is why He passes through the lives of all people to the ends of the earth for there is always rejoicing in Heaven when just one sinner repents and receives Him.

John 5:24 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life. (Quick Amplified Bible)

Let us just for a brief moment dissect two most important and critical words in this passage of Scripture. The first word is part of the title and it is the word passed. This word passed is from the Greek word metabaino, which means to change place, depart, or go.

The second word of extreme significance in this passage is into or unto (in the KJV). This word is from the Greek word eis. Eis is a primary preposition indicating the point reached or entered of place, time, purpose, or result.

When a person truly receives Christ, he departs or goes out of spiritual death and enters into or reaches a point or place of spiritual life (eternal life in Christ). The person passes over into this life once and forever and can never ever go back to the place or time of spiritual death. What a glorious and wonderful truth this is for all of us who have passed over into this glorious life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our brother in Christ from the 18th Century Adam Clarke (1715-1832) said this of passing from death unto life, “Has changed his country, or place of abode. Death is the country where every Christ less soul lives. The man who knows not God lives a dying life, or a living death; but he who believes in the Son of God passes over from the empire of death, to the empire of life. Reader! thou wast born in death: hast thou yet changed the place of thy natural residence? Remember that to live in sin is to live in death; and those who live and die thus shall die eternally.”